Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are not best midfielders in Premier League – it’s £34m Premier League rookie

Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are NOT the best midfielders in the Premier League.

That’s according to talkSPORT host Rory Jennings, who has picked out Manchester City star Rayan Cherki for that tag.

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Both Rice and Caicedo have shone for respective sides Arsenal and Chelsea this season.

The Gunners currently top the Premier League, two points clear of rivals Manchester City and three above third-placed Aston Villa, having collected 39 points from the opening 17 matches.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have fallen by the wayside following a run of just one win from their last five Premier League outings, though Caicedo only recently returned to league action for last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle having served a three-match ban.

The London-based pair are widely considered to be the best in their position in England’s top tier given their importance to their respective teams.

Jennings, though, believes the best midfielder is one Manchester City signed for just £34million from Lyon over the summer.

“Rayan Cherki could quite easily be the best midfielder in the league at the moment,” Jennings said on Drive. “I think he could be the best in the midfield at the moment.

“If you look at the form that he’s displaying, if you look at the consistency that he’s playing with.

“He warms me because I always love footballers like that. You know those kind of maverick 1970s throwback footballers who just kind of play and really adopt the artistry of the game.”

Jennings continued: “He really embraces the beauty of the game. He’s not a system footballer at all.

“And Pep Guardiola seems to be making the most out of him.

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“His quick feet, brilliant off for a goal, wonderful finish on him. I think he’s one of the best players in the league at the moment, no doubt.”

Cherki was one of seven new signings to move to the Etihad Stadium over the summer, with the likes of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Gianluigi Donnarumma also among those to move to the Manchester giants earlier this year.

However, the 22-year-old has been limited to just seven league starts this season owing to a thigh problem sustained in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in August.

Since his return to the side, however, Cherki has shone on the City frontline, and has now registered six Premier League assists.

A case for Caicedo

Former Chelsea star Joe Cole won’t agree with Jennings, however, having insisted earlier this season that there’s no better player between both boxes in world football than Caicedo.

“I think he’s certainly knocking on the door and possibly, he could be the no.1,” Cole told talkSPORT in November.

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“I remember watching him at Brighton and I thought to myself, ‘Between the two boxes, I think he’s the best midfielder in the world’.

“In the modern game, when so much of it’s about patterns of play and winning yardage, breaking the lines, he’s the best at that.

“Breaking up play, he’s got great technique and I thought, ‘But can he score goals?’ And now he’s adding goals into his game. Also, at the other end of the pitch, he’s becoming more of a leader.

“I think he’s the most important player at Chelsea in terms of, if we had a cup final tomorrow, I’d want his name on the teamsheet before anyone else.

“I think he’s brilliant, and that £100million now is looking like a snip.”